The Catalonia government claims that over 2 million votes were cast, in defiance of riot police, rubber bullets and intimidation. Professor Alison Ribeiro de Menezes, Head of the School of School of Modern Languages and Cultures, comments on the weekend's events:-

"The Madrid government hands the Catalan independence movement the images it wanted: violence to prevent ordinary Catalans voting is reported across the international media. But genuine dialogue is surely the only feasible solution.

"Madrid must take account of Catalan sentiment, and Barcelona needs to recognise that the Spanish constitution offers no provision for a secessionist vote. To secure it they need the support of 2/3 of Spain to change the 1978 constitution, and then win the subsequent referendum.

"But all need to be more careful of their language and respect one another to rebuild a proper democratic and civic space for debate."